Dataset Information

Explaining better hearing in Norway: a comparison of two cohorts 20 years apart - the HUNT study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The hearing function at a given age seems to have improved in more recent born cohorts in industrialized countries. But the reasons for the improvement have not yet been explained.

Methods

We investigated the extent to which better hearing in Norway is attributed to modifiable risk factors by using representative demographic and audiometric data from two cohorts of the Trøndelag Health Study, HUNT2 (1996-1998) and HUNT4 (2017-2019). We estimated natural indirect effects using causal inference methods in order to assess whether cohort improvement in hearing thresholds (HTs) was mediated by occupational noise exposure, recurrent ear infections, smoking and education.

Results

The improvement in HTs from HUNT2 to HUNT4 was 2.8 and 3.0?dB at low respectively high frequencies. Together all risk factors mediated this improvement by 0.8?dB (95% CI 0.7-0.9) and 0.8?dB (95% CI 0.7-0.9) respectively, corresponding to mediated proportions of 27 and 28%. Substantial mediation was specifically found for occupational noise in men and recurrent ear infections in women (mediated proportions of 11 and 17% at high frequencies, respectively).

Conclusions

Increased education, less occupational noise exposure, ear infections and smoking contributed considerably to better hearing in Norway the last two decades.

SUBMITTER: Engdahl B

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7844976 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Explaining better hearing in Norway: a comparison of two cohorts 20 years apart - the HUNT study.

Engdahl Bo B Stigum Hein H Aarhus Lisa L

BMC public health 20210128 1

<h4>Background</h4>The hearing function at a given age seems to have improved in more recent born cohorts in industrialized countries. But the reasons for the improvement have not yet been explained.<h4>Methods</h4>We investigated the extent to which better hearing in Norway is attributed to modifiable risk factors by using representative demographic and audiometric data from two cohorts of the Trøndelag Health Study, HUNT2 (1996-1998) and HUNT4 (2017-2019). We estimated natural indirect effects ...[more]

PMID: 33509127

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Dataset Information

Explaining better hearing in Norway: a comparison of two cohorts 20 years apart - the HUNT study.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Explaining better hearing in Norway: a comparison of two cohorts 20 years apart - the HUNT study.

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